Puzzle.



UNITED sTArEs PATENT oEEroE.

WILLIAM I-I. FAILOR, OF CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PUZZLE.

which the following is a speciiication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. 1

My invention relates to improvements in puzzles and its object is to provide a simple and inexpensive device oi this character which will be highly amusing and entertaining.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts ,hereinafter fully described and claimed, and

illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved puzzle; andv Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 2 2 in Fig. 1.

My improved puzzle comprises a tray 1 preferably of rectangular form, having a surrounding vertical side Wall and a plurality of straight and curved, vertical partitions upon the upper face of its bottom or base 2. Some of said partitions are arranged parallel with each other and with the side Walls and some concentric with each other, so that they form between each other and the side walls straight and curved passages which provide circuitous courses between the outer and the central portions ofthe tray, for balls or marbles which are designedto represent a fox and a number of hounds, the tray with its circuitous passages or courses being designed to represent the field or ground over which the hounds chase the fox. As clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the four side walls are numbered 3, 4, 5, and 6, and arranged parallel with the wall 3 is a straight partition 7 which forms a passageway between the starting place A of the hounds in one corner of the tray, and the starting place B of the fox in an adjacent corner. The starting' place for the fox, which latter is distinguished from the live hounds by its color or size, or in any other manner, is formed by a substantially V-shaped partition 8 arranged as shown in Fig. 1. The mouth of the pocket formed by the partition 8 opens adjacent to the side wall 4 which has a partition 9 arranged parallel with it. The adjacent ends of the par- Speccaton of Letters Patent. Application filed March 17, 1906. Serial No. 306,565.

Patented May 21, 1907.

titions 7 and 9 form an entrance between them, and opposite said entrance are the spaced ends of a series of curved, concentric partitions 10, 11 and 12. The opposite end of the partition 1() terminates at the opposite end of the partition 9 and forms a blind passage or pocket 13 of segmental shape. One end of the partition 12 terminates at one end of a straight partition 14 which is arranged. parallel with the partition 7 and the side wall 3, and the opposite ends oi the partitions 12 and 11 terminate at the ends of short partitions 15 and 16 which latter are parallel with the side wall 4. Extending from the opposite ends of the partitions 15 and 16 are partitions 17 and 18 which are parallel with the side wall 5 and the latter of which terminates at one end of a partition 19 which latter is parallel With the side wall 6. Parallel with the partition 17 are two partitions 20 and 21 which have one end of the passage between them closed, to form a blind alley or pocket 22, by a partition 23 which is parallel with the partition 19. Arranged concentrically around a depression 24 which is the home or goal for the fox and which is located adjacent to the center of the bottom or base 2, is a circular Wall or partition 25 'which forms the home or goal for the hounds. This partition 25 has an entrance opening 26 formed in it at a point opposite the partition 23 and a second entrance 27 is provided at the end of a rightangled passage formed by right-angular partitions 28 and 29.

The operation oi the puzzle is as follows:

-The tray is held in a horizontal position, and

the ioX 30 is placed in its starting place or pocket B and the hve hounds 31 are placed at the opposite corner oi the tray at point A, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The tray is then manipulated until the ioX is seated in the depression 24 and the hounds are all Within the circular wall or partition 25. In doing this, the hounds must not touch the fox until he is in said depression. The ball 30 representing the ioX is started from the pocket B by tilting the tray, the entrance to said pocket being sufficiently large to admit of the ball passing from said pocket. The puzzle will aii'ord much amusement to both the young and old, and much skill and patience is required to accomplish its object.

Changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit or sacricing any of lOO IIO

plo

the advantages of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my said invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

The herein described puzzle comprising a rectangular tray having a base formed adj acent to its center With a single depression and side walls 3, 4, 5, 6 surrounding said base, the V-shaped partition 8 arranged in one corner of the tray and forming a starting place for al single ball, the partition 7 arranged parallel with the Wall 3 and having its ends spaced from said partition 8 and said Wall 6 the partition 7 and -Wall 3 forming an open ended starting passage for a plurality of balls, the partition 9 arranged parallel with Wall 4 and having one of its ends spaced from the said partition 8, the arceshaped concentrically arranged partitions 10, 11, 12 forming passages opening adjacent to the partition 8 and one end of the partition 7, said partition 10 having one of its ends connected to the partition 9 to form a blind pocket, the partition 14 leading from one of the ends of the partition 12 and terminating adjacent to the Wall 6, the partitions 15, 16 leading from the partitions 12, 11, the partitions 17, 18 leading from the partitions 15, 16 and parallel with the Wall 5, the partitions 19, 23 parallel with the Wall 6, said partition 19 leading from one end of the partition 18 and having its other end spaced Jfrom the partition 14, the partitions 20, 21 leading from the partition 23 and forming a blind pocket between them, the circular Wall 25 surrounding the depression 24 and having the openings 26, 27, the right angular partitions 28, 29 leading from the opening 27 in the partition 25, a single bal[ adapted to fit in said depression and a plurality of balls distinguishable from said single ball, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of tWo'Witnesses.

WILLIAM H. FAILOR.

Witnesses:

J. E. BARNITZ, L. S. EIsENHoWER. 

